Effect of robot-assisted rehabilitation of patients with Parkinson’s disease: A meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective This meta-analysis evaluates the effectiveness of robot-assisted rehabilitation on various functional outcomes in patients with Parkinson's disease. Data sources A comprehensive search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar up to April 2025. Review methods Randomized controlled trials assessing the impact of robot-assisted rehabilitation were included. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMD) were calculated using a random-effects model, with heterogeneity assessed via I 2 and tau 2 statistics. Sensitivity analyses and publication bias assessments were also performed. Results The meta-analysis included 22 studies with 819 participants. Significant improvements were observed in the Six-Minute Walk Test (SMD = 1.304, 95%CI: 0.387–2.221, p = 0.005, I 2 = 93.1%), timed up-and-go test (SMD = -0.302, 95%CI: −0.490 to −0.114, p = 0.002, I 2 = 0.0%), Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part-III (SMD = -0.924, 95% CI: −1.330 to −0.518, p < 0.0001, I 2 = 79.9%), Berg Balance Scale (SMD = 0.986, 95% CI: 0.546–1.425, p < 0.0001, I 2 = 76.3%), and gait speed (SMD = 0.772, 95%CI: 0.290–1.255, p = 0.002, I 2 = 73.1%). Step length showed significant improvement (SMD = 0.848; 95%CI: 0.196–1.501, p = 0.011, I 2 = 87%). Conclusion Robot-assisted rehabilitation significantly improves functional outcomes in patients with Parkinson's disease, particularly in walking distance, balance, and gait speed. These findings support the integration of robot-assisted rehabilitation into clinical practice for enhancing mobility and reducing motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease.